Thomas Jefferson Papers
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John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 9 August 1813

From John Adams

Quincy Aug. 9. 13.

I believe I told you in my last, that I had given you all in Lindseys Memoirs, that interested you. But I was mistaken. In Priestleys Letter to Lindsey Decr 19. 1803, I find this Paragraph

“With the Work I am now composing I go on much faster and better than I expected; so that in two or three months, if my health continue as it now is, I hope to have it ready for the Press; though I Shall hardly proceed to print it, till We have dispatched the Notes. It is upon the Same plan with that of ‘Socrates1 and Jesus compared,’ considering all the more distinguished of the Grecian Sects of Philosophy, till the establishment of Christianity in the Roman Empire. If you liked that Pamphlet, I flatter myself you will like this. I hope it is calculated to Show, in a peculiarly Striking Light, the great Advantage of Revelation, and that it will make an impression on candid Unbelievers, if they will read. But I find few that will trouble themselves to read any thing, on the Subject; which considering the great magnitude and interesting nature of the Subject, is a proof of a very improper State of mind unworthy of a rational Being.”

I Send you this extract for several reasons. 1st because you Sett him upon this work. 2dly because I wish you to endeavour to bring it to light and get it printed. 3ly Because I wish it may Stimulate you, to pursue your own plan which you promised to Dr Rush. I have not Seen any Work which expressly compares the Morality of the old Testament with that of the New in all their Branches: nor either with that of the ancient Philosophers.2 Comparisons with the Chinese, the East3 Indians, the Affricans, the West Indians &c would be more difficult; with more ancient Nations, impossible. The Documents are destroyed.

John Adams

RC (DLC); at foot of text: “President Jefferson”; endorsed by TJ as received 20 Aug. 1813 and so recorded in SJL. FC (Lb in MHi: Adams Papers).

The work being composed in December 1803 had already been printed as Priestley, Heathen Philosophy.

1Omitted opening quotation mark editorially supplied.

2RC: “Philosopers.” FC: “Philosophers.”

3Word interlined.

Index Entries

  • Adams, John; and J. Priestley’s writings search
  • Adams, John; and T. Belsham’s Memoirs of the Late Reverend Theophilus Lindsey search
  • Adams, John; letters from search
  • Adams, John; on religion search
  • Belsham, Thomas; Memoirs of the Late Reverend Theophilus Lindsey, M.A. search
  • books; on religion search
  • Christianity; in Roman Empire search
  • Lindsey, Theophilus; correspondence with J. Priestley search
  • Lindsey, Theophilus; Memoirs of the Late Reverend Theophilus Lindsey search
  • Memoirs of the Late Reverend Theophilus Lindsey, M.A. (T. Belsham) search
  • Priestley, Joseph; correspondence with T. Lindsey search
  • Priestley, Joseph; Socrates and Jesus Compared search
  • Priestley, Joseph; The Doctrines of Heathen Philosophy, compared with those of Revelation search
  • religion; works on search
  • Rome, ancient; Christianity in search
  • Rush, Benjamin; and religion search
  • Socrates and Jesus Compared (Priestley) search
  • The Doctrines of Heathen Philosophy, compared with those of Revelation (J. Priestley) search